Bookrack



March 20, 1928. 1,663,432

c. L. AMES BOOKRAC K Filed March 11. 1926 Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES;

CHESTERL. imits, or rnonnrxnnrzona;

BOOKRACK.

Application filed March ll, 1926. Serial No. 93,908.

This invention relates to book racks, and particularly to book racks of that character wherein adjustable end members are employed.

I The primary obj provide a book rack or stand havlng an ad justable end plate or piece of such character that the Weight of the book rack base and articles placed thereon is utilized to firmly maintain the end platein its desired position of adjustment,whereby to more firmly hold books in proper position upon the rack. A further object is'to provide a book rack of such character that adjustment of the, movable end plate may be readily made, and wherein the same automatically locks itself in adjusted position immediately it has been released. T r

A still-further object is to provides book rack of'extremely simple construction, which 7 may be manufactured and marketed at low cost, which involves simplified processes in its construction, which will prove durable and at all times effective and operative when in use, and which will prove highly practical for the purposes for which it is' intended.

WVith these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and

particularly pointed out in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a book rack or shelf embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved shelf, V

Fig. 3 is an end view of the shelf, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a book shelf illustrating a slight modification, and

Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary sectional view taken through the shelf base and end plate and illustrating more particularly the operation of the device as shown in Fig. 4. Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the improved book rack includes a shelf or base represented at 6, of any desired length and breadth and formed of any suitable material. This shelf or base is supported at one end in slightly raised position by a fixed end piece 7, the lower portion of the latter constituting a leg to rest upon a table or other article of furniture.

The adjustable end piece includes a plate represented at 8, which normally rests on its lower edge upon the upper surface of the base or shelf 6, and which terminates at its upper end preferably in the same plane with r the corresponding end of the lined member 7. ect of the invention is to The inventive characteristics reside in the construction and assemblage of the ad ustable plate or end piece 8, and in carrying forth this idea legs indicated at 9are employed. These legs depend from the plate 8 and when in normal position maintain the plate in locked position against movement longitudinally of the shelf 6, and also maintain the latter in true horizontal position. "lheselegs, therefore, have their lower portions oifset or out of the vertical plane of the plate'8, Jandprojectin the direction of the fixed end 7. The lowersurfaces of the legs are rounded as indicated toform rockers, and the normalpoint of bearing of these rockers is represented at 10. The legs are associated with the plate in such manner that when resting upon their normal points of bearing 10, the plate will be at the desired angle with respect to the base 6. It has been found most practicable to normally p0 sitzon the plate 8 at right'angles to the base 6, however, it will be understood that the degree o'fthe angle may be'varied if desired.

The legs 10 are provided with stops 11 disposed directly. above the normal points of bearing of the legs 10 and engage with the under face of the shelf 6 when the legs are resting upon their normal points of bearing.

With the end plate and its legs and stops arranged in this manner, the weight of the shelf 6 and any books that may be positioned thereon is utilized to maintain the plate against adjustment. The stops or pins 11 operate as fulcrums, and the outer edge 12 of the. shelf 8 will be caused to firmlv bind with the upper surface of the base 6. VVhen it is desired to adjust the plate, the base may be slightly lifted so as to allow the plate 8 to be slightly inclined in the direction of the fixed end member 7 whereupon the adjustable plate may be freely moved either inwardly or outwardly, of the base. When the desired adjustment has been made, the weight of the base and the books thereon, operating through the fulcrum 11, will cause the plate 8 to swing outwardly until the edge 12 is brought into contact with the shelf 6. When so positioned, the end piece will be perpendicular to the base 6 and locked against movement.

In one embodiment of the device, the invention is carried out by providing the base 6 with spaced parallel longitudinally disposed slots 13, through which the rocker legs 9 project, and each leg, at the proper place, is provided with a pin 11 for the purposes above set forth.

In Figs. 4 and 5, the same inventive idea is carried out, except that the slots in the base 6 are dispensed with. In this instance, the adjustable end plate 8 is provided at its extremities with legs 9 straddling the base 6. The forward ends of these legs are connected by a cross member let, which not only operates as an eltective stop, but also lends rigidity to the leg structure.

It is obvious that when constructed in the manner set "forth, the book shelf will eiieclively operate to accomplish the several objccts set forth, and while the present is a de scription of the invention in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understoodthat variations in the construction of parts and assemblage thereof may be resorted to it desired without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a base, a plate resting at its lower edge upon said base, a rocker leg depending from said plate and having its normal point of bearing disposed beyond the lower edge of the plate, and astop on said leg disposed in the same vertical plane with the said point of hearing.

2. In a device oi. the class described, a base, a plate resting atits lower edge upon said base, a rocker leg depending from said plate and having its normal point of bearing beyond the plane of the plate when the latter is perpendicular to the base, and a stop on said leg engaging with the under face of said base when the rocker isresting upon its normal bearing point.

3. In a device of the class described, a base, a plate resting at its lower edge upon said base, a pair of rocker legs depending in spaced relation from said plate and having their normal points of bearing out of the vertical plane of said plate, and means on said legs limiting rocking movement of the latter in one direction whenthe plate has assumed a predetermined angle relative to said base.

4. In a device of the class described, a base having spaced longitudinal slots therein, a plate, a pair of rocker legs carried by'said plate and extending down through I said slots, the normal load sustaining points of said rockers being out of the vertical plane of said plate, and stops on said rockers engageable with said base when the plate is perpendicular thereto.

5. Ina device of the class described, a

base, a plate adapted to rest at its lower edge upon said base, a rocker leg depending from said plate and having abearingportion disposed out of the plane ofthe latter, a stop 011 said leg disposed in the plane of said bearing portion, and said stop so spaced from the plate as to be engaged with the lower face of the base when the plate is resting upon and perpendicular to the base.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' C. L. AMES. 

